26-Apr-2001
Disclaimer: Nope don't own 'em, never will . . . ok, now that I've dried my tears . . .
Warnings: No warnings except for some milder expletives.
Rating: PG-13 because of said expletives
Pairings: None this chapter
I wrote a fic called Love The One You're With. It was a 3x2 lemon, my first with that pairing. I found I like writing that pairing. This one is going to be a multi-part. Instead of them getting to the lemon stage right away, I thought it would be nice if they get to know each other and build a friendship first. It's also my first POV fic, Duo is telling the story.
Just my luck. We'd earned some down time, and I was excited. I was going to get to spend some time with Heero . . . alone, at last. No missions, no reports to enter into his laptop, no Relena to find us. I planned on using this time to my fullest advantage and put Operation Seduce Heero into action. Maybe it would finally dawn on him how much I lusted after his tight ass.
But like I said, it was just my luck . . . my bad luck. Instead of Heero, I got Trowa. The only guy in the world quieter than a mime. And I got to spend a whole week with him. Big whoop.
The only thing worse than spending a week with a guy who doesn't like to talk is spending it with a guy who doesn't like to talk, in a cabin, in the woods, by a lake, with no VCR, no TV, no radio, no CD player. No nothing . . . except a deck of cards and a combination chess/checkers board game. Oh, and lots of fishing equipment. Too bad I don't know how to fish.
I'd survived hell many times over, but this was worse than hell.
He was already there when I arrived. And from the wide eyed look on his face, he was as surprised and disappointed to see me as I was him. Go figure.
To make matters worse, the guy had the nerve to lay claim to the bigger bedroom, with the bigger bed that had the nice fluffy goose down comforter and pillows. My room had a rollaway bed with a chenille bedspread. The curtains were a flower print, all pale pink and lavender. It was definitely a girl's room. Later that night I found I had to sleep on matching sheets. Ugh!
Our first night was spent quietly. Even if he could carry a conversation, it would have been hard, seeing how he shut himself off in his room. He was reading a book he just had to finish, or at least that's what I think he meant. He'd held the book up for me to see as he was closing the door.
I played solitaire that night until I couldn't tell the difference between a club and a spade.
I awoke to the smell of bacon frying and coffee brewing. I dragged my still tired butt out of bed, the enticing aromas were making my stomach growl.
"Good morning," I yawned as I padded my way to the coffee pot, "is it done yet? Where are the cups?"
Trowa only nodded and pointed to a cabinet, and went back to cooking the bacon.
"Is there any milk, or creamer?"
He nodded towards the refrigerator as he laid the bacon strips on a plate covered with a paper towel.
"How do you like your eggs?".
"Wha'? I stammered, he'd finally said something.
"Your eggs?".
"It doesn't matter, whatever way you like 'em, I guess."
He began breaking eggs into a bowl and beat them together, then poured them into the skillet and scrambled them. When he was done, he dished them out into a couple of plates and set them on the table.
I helped myself to a couple of strips of bacon and buttered toast he'd already made and took a bite of the eggs.
They were good. Light and fluffy, the way scrambled eggs should be. Mine always come out rubbery.
"These are great, thanks for making breakfast," I said.
He sat down and started eating as well. I could swear he was grinning.
After we'd finished eating and after the dishes were washed, I needed to find something to do. Trowa had gone back to his room, to do more reading, I guess.
I stepped outside on the back porch and stared at the lake for a while. The land was dotted with pine and other evergreen trees and their aroma filled the air. I could see small boats dotting the lake here and there. The cabin even had its own small pier with a couple of boats tied to its dock. It was a pretty place, too bad it was wasted on me.
Did I mention I don't know how to swim, either?
I went back inside, cursing whoever it was that had arranged this. Relaxation was one thing, boredom was something else. And when I get bored, I always manage to find a way to get myself into trouble.
I sometimes wonder if that was my real name, Trouble, it fit me so well.
Ok, so I didn't know how to fish, that didn't mean I couldn't learn. After all, it couldn't be that hard. I went back inside and gathered up a couple of poles and this little toolbox looking thing. I had always seen people who were fishing with one, so I figured it was something you needed. I found out later it's called a tackle box. Why is all the stuff you put on a fishing line called tackle?
The pier seemed like the logical place to try, so I walked out to the end of it and set my gear down. I looked the two poles over, and what do you know, they seemed to be set up. I was ready to start fishing.
~*~
Did you know fishing has to be one of the most boring things there is? Well it is if you don't know what the hell you are doing. I sat on the edge, my feet dangling in the water, the fishing line waiting and inviting to any fish that came along. I didn't get even one nibble.
"You're not going to catch anything that way," he said, "fish expect the hook to have bait on it."
I must have been half asleep because I didn't hear him approach. Not only doesn't he talk much, but he walks like he's in stealth mode. He scared me out of my skin and into the water.
He calmly reached over, grabbed my shirt collar and pulled my sorry ass out after I spent the longest seconds of my life, splashing, thrashing and gulping water.
"Pretty stupid not to wear a life jacket when you don't know how to swim, no wonder Heero always calls you a baka," it was hard to tell if his eyes were expressing disgust or mirth, "if you want to learn that bad, I'll teach you tomorrow. Come inside and get out of those wet clothes," he turned and walked back to the cabin, leaving me to stand there dripping wet and embarrassed as hell.
Those were the most words I think I've ever heard him say to anyone, but the two that stuck out in my mind were 'stupid' and 'baka'. It was one thing for Heero to say them all the time, it was another to hear someone else say them to me. I think that embarrassed me more than falling into the water. I hesitated a couple of minutes before I squished my way back.
He met me at the door with a towel and a change of clothes, "take off those wet things before you come inside," he ordered, "you'll track dirty water all over the floor."
"Where? Out here on the porch? People will see me!" I yelped, "the lake is full of boats!"
"No there isn't, they're all getting off the water. There's a storm brewing," he said, pointing to the sky.
I turned and looked, the sky was fast growing black from the clouds that were blowing in. The lake was already deserted.
"That's what I had come out to tell you," he said, "that it was time to come inside before it hit. Here put your wet clothes in this," he handed me a basket and closed the door.
I undressed and dressed as fast as I could, pausing long enough to wipe some of the water off me. I wonder if he peeked. I threw the wet clothes and the towel in the basket, bringing it and the fishing equipment inside with me. Five minutes later it started raining cats and dogs.
Did you know lake water smells really bad? Especially when it's in your hair. I had to take a shower, I couldn't stand the smell. And wouldn't you know, the way my luck was running, the electricity went out and I was stuck in a pitch black bathroom with my hair full of shampoo.
I rinsed my hair as quickly as I could, hoping Trowa had found some candles or something to give us light. I had to skip the conditioner, combing out my hair was going to be fun. I had to feel my way out of the tub and around the room for my towel. I was facing the door and standing as I dried my hair when I heard a soft knock and the door opened.
Trowa had found some hurricane lamps and brought me one. He set it on the vanity before he left the room.
This time I know he peeked. Even though the lamplight was dim, I could see his cheeks redden as he blushed.
Who'd have figured. Trowa Barton was shy.
He had made cocoa while I was in the bathroom, complete with marshmallows. We sat quietly as we drank, and it was driving me up the wall. I realized he only spoke when he had a remark to make or a question to ask. That's when a plan began to formulate in my head. It would be my life's mission while we were here.
I was going to teach Trowa how to win friends and be the life of the party. I was going to teach him how to make conversation.
"Trowa, thanks for the cocoa, it really hit the spot after that little spill in the water."
He smiled and nodded, then started looking out the windows. The scene hadn't changed, it was still raining and it was still dark and we still didn't have electricity.
"How about I make dinner, and then we play cards?" I asked. Cards would get him talking, they get everyone talking when they play.
"Let's both make dinner," Trowa countered, "I'm sure you're as bored as I am."
"You're bored?" I was surprised by his admission.
"Well of course I'm bored, and I might add, a little put off," he admitted, "I saw the look on your face when you got here."
"You had the same look," I shot back.
"No I didn't, you looked disappointed as hell when you saw me, I was just surprised to see they sent you, is all."
"I'm sorry, I didn't really mean to make you feel out of place. I have to admit I was expecting Heero, since we are partners."
"And you were hoping this would be your chance to get closer." Trowa sighed.
I shifted on the couch, suddenly feeling a little uncomfortable, "uh, am I that obvious?" Ghodz, I was hoping he'd say no.
"Just a little," he grinned, "to me that is. Heero doesn't have a clue. Come on, let's go make dinner and I will take you up on a few games of cards."
"Cool, let's see what the kitchen has to offer, that we both agree on," I grinned back.
"That offer to teach you how to fish, tomorrow, still stands if you're interested," he added.
"As long as you promise to talk to me while we fish," I said.
"Ok," he answered, "now come on and let's make something to eat. I'm starved."
The lights suddenly came back on. Maybe this week wasn't going to be so bad after all.
TBC
End of Part 1
KwyckSylver
Please send comments to: kwycksylver@yahoo.com